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Tag: Open Grazing

  • BREAKING: Delta LG chairmen handed deadline to implement anti open grazing laws

    BREAKING: Delta LG chairmen handed deadline to implement anti open grazing laws

    The Delta State House of Assembly committee on legislative compliance during a meeting held on Tuesday 5th November 2024 has directed all local government councils chairmen in Delta State to implement the anti open grazing laws of the state passed by the 7th assembly in 2021 and accented to by the Sen Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa the immediate past governor of the state.

    In his welcome speech, the chairman of the committee and deputy speaker of the delta state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. (Olorogun) Arthur Akpowowo Esq, told the councils chairmen that we summoned you here because you failed to show up in the last meeting, and before we start we want you to show cause why you refused to honour our invitation”.

    The council chairmen apologized in turns, saying they have deep respect for the house and it won’t happen again, their apologies were accepted and they were cautioned never to make such a deliberate mistake again!

    Opening the meeting the Chairman of the committee briefed them the reasons for the meeting, “It’s no longer news that herders have become a threat to lives are properties and like I would always say, we should not stereotype any tribe or region on this issue because our people are also involved in cattle rearing so no one should be exempted in implementing this law, go back form your committees, invite all stakeholders involved, heads of security agencies, local security outfits, royal fathers, community and opinions leaders to round table discussion and thereafter give them time to comply before implementation” the deputy speaker said.

    The deputy chairman of the committee who is also the majority leader of the house Hon. Engr. Emmanuel Emeka Nwobi, lent his voice to what the chairman said and also cautioned the council chairmen that non-implementation and non-compliance of provisions of the anti open grazing laws in the local government council areas has a penalty.

    Other committee members present took their time to tell the council chairmen the importance of this law to our people.

    Responding, Hon Dagidi Andaye the executive chairman of Bomadi local government council area and secretary Algon Delta State, said “they will go back and have a meeting on modalities to implement the laws, also the chairmen of Udu, Ika South, Aniocha North responded in their various capacities.

    House committee chairman and members present include, Rt. Hon. (Olorogun) Arthur Akpowowo Esq. Chairman, Hon. Engr. Emmanuel Emeka Nwobi, Deputy Chairman, Hon Edafe Emakpor Esq. Member, Hon Odion Esq Member, Hon Oloye PereOtu member.

    Eleven (11) local government council chairmen from, Bomadi, Udu, Aniocha North, Ika South, Uvwie, Ika North East, Patani, Oshimili South, Warri South, Warri North were present from the 15 council chairmen who were absent from the last meeting.

    A copy of the anti open grazing laws was handed over to the council chairmen to work with.

  • Three herdsmen arrested in Ondo for open grazing; 180 cows seized

    Three herdsmen arrested in Ondo for open grazing; 180 cows seized

    ONDO State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, have arrested three herdsmen and seized their 180 cows for violating the state’s anti-open grazing law.
    Chairman of Ondo State Chapter of Amotekun Adetunji Adeleye revealed this to newsmen in Akure on Wednesday.

    He said operatives arrested the herdsmen and the cows at Oke Ala area of Akure, the state capital.

    “We confiscated about 180 cows and they are in our custody. We intend to release them to the owners after they have complied with the regulations as contained in the anti-open grazing law. We have also detained the three herders arrested with the cows. Their boss has come and we are dealing with the boss now,” he said.

    He noted that the agency would invoke the penalty of the law on the culprits, stipulating a minimum of N100,000 fine or three years’ imprisonment for defaulters.

    Adeleye also called on the leadership of Miyetti Allah to educate its members to comply with the state’s anti-open grazing law.

    “We have a number of herders here with us and we are making them comply with the enacted law, which stipulates penalty for defaulting herders. The position of the law is that if they choose to go to court, we will implement the law, which stipulates a minimum of N100,000 fine or three years’ imprisonment.

    “In most cases, you will see them pleading that such a thing will not happen again. We have also implored the leadership of Miyetti Allah to educate the members that the anti-open grazing law of Ondo State is fully in force.”

    The law banning open grazing in Ondo State was signed into law by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in August.

    The purpose of the law, according to the state, was to stem the needless skirmishes, conflicts, and infractions between herders and farmers/ residents.

    The government noted that law was not targeted at any ethnic group but to engender a more cordial, mutually benefiting relationship amongst residents of the state irrespective of ethnicity, religion or creed.

    Meanwhile, the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders has vowed that its members will not comply with the laws irrespective of where they are enacted in the country.

  • Masari queues behind Southern colleagues, considers banning open grazing in Katsina

    Masari queues behind Southern colleagues, considers banning open grazing in Katsina

    Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has hinted that his administration is considering banning open grazing in the state.

    The governor faulted the movement of herders from one part of the country to another.

    He however explained that before the state would create a law banning the open grazing of livestock, the government would make provisions to house the animals.

    “We intend to have a law banning (cattle) roaming but before we do that, we would make provisions for where the animals would stay,” the governor said during the programme.

    “Herdsmen should stay in one place. Roaming about should not be encouraged. In fact, for us, it is un-Islamic. Why do you have animals that you cannot feed and you have to go to other people’s land and farm and you say that is right? I don’t think it is right,” the governor said on a monitored Channels Television programme on Monday.

    He explained that as part of the efforts to kick start the ranching programme, the Federal Government disbursed N6.2 billion for the project.

    Masari added, “We already have started. The Federal Government has given us N6.2 billion and as a state government, we are also investing N6.2 billion. The objective is to have Fulanis stay in one place.”

    TheNewsGuru,com, TNG reports that Masari’s comment comes four months after the Southern Governors Forum announced a ban on open grazing of cattle across states in the region.

    The governors, after meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital and a follow up meeting in Lagos asked President Buhari to address Nigerians on the state of the nation.

    It also instructed states in the region to enact anti-open grazing laws in their domain to curb incessant clashes between herders and farmers.

  • Miyetti Allah mounts pressure on NASS to stop enactment of anti-open grazing laws

    Miyetti Allah mounts pressure on NASS to stop enactment of anti-open grazing laws

    The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Fulani Socio-Cultural Association has called on the National Assembly to intervene and stop attempt by some states governors to enact anti-open grazing laws targeted at Fulani pastoralists.

    The National Secretary of the association, Mr Saleh Alhassan, made the call a National Peace Summit and Investiture of Queen Mother Amina Temitope Ajayi as the Miyetti Allah Brand Ambassador, held at Uke, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State.

    Alhassan said that the law would undermine the relative peace and stability currently enjoyed in the local communities, threaten social order and exacerbated cattle rustling.

    He said that the anti-open grazing laws would destroy livestock production and send into poverty millions of people that depend on the livestock value chain.

    Alhassan appealed to the national assembly to come to the rescue of the pastoralists by resuscitating and passing the Grazing Reserves Commission Bill and other livestock management bills that were initiated by the previous assembly.

    The secretary, therefore, called on the Federal Government to create a Federal Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries as obtainable in many African countries.

    He stressed the need for the government to take an inventory of all the existing grazing reserves, traditional grazing areas, transhumance corridors, major stock routes and fully develop at least one grazing reserve in each Senatorial District.

    “This is in line with the recommendation of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Livestock Development in Nigeria 2015, the Report of the President Committee on Pastoralists and Insecurity 2014 and National Livestock Transformation Programme.”

    He said that the review of the Land Use Act was long overdue to accommodate the interest of all land resources users, including pastoralists.

    He said that ranching as envisaged by many required capital investment and was difficult to sustain, not economical “and it is not small livestock holder-centred.

    Alhassan, therefore, called for the proper funding of the National Commission for Nomadic Education and expansion of its mandate.

    “Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore totally condemns the continuous extortion and profiling of the Fulani pastoralists by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and we call on him to offer apology to the Fulani race.

    “We commend the courageous efforts of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to our consistent call to restore the existing grazing reserves, routes and create new ones.

    “Because it is the only sustainable solution to the farmers and herders conflicts in the country,” he said.

    The highpoint of the events was the investiture of Queen Mother Amina Temitope Ajayi as the Miyetti Allah Brand Ambassador, held at Uke, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State.

    Responding, Ajayi said she joined the association with a view to engender peace, unity and development as well as chart a new course of action for the Fulani pastoralists.

    “I have developed a blueprint for the total transformation of the cattle rearing and farming business that will change the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

    “If we are able to implement half of my development agenda for the Fulani pastoralists, the lingering clash of Fulani versus farmers will be a thing of the past,” she said.

  • BREAKING: Akeredolu signs Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law

    BREAKING: Akeredolu signs Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law

    The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimii Akeredolu, on Tuesday, signed into law the Anti-Open Grazing Bill in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum at its last meeting, held in Lagos.

    This came few weeks after the bill has been passed by the State House of Assembly.

    With the development, Ondo has become one of the states in the South that has passed and signed the bill into law, meeting the deadline of the Southern Governors’ Forum.

    In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo said, the governor signed the bill in his office on Tuesday.

    The statement said, “The move ( signing the bill) is in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum at its last meeting in Lagos where September 1st was set as the deadline for governors in southern Nigeria to sign the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law.

    “This is worthwhile and a very laudable development aimed at stemming needless instances of skirmishes, conflicts as well as infractions on the enviably peaceful disposition of the good people of Ondo State.

    “It is very pertinent to aver and indeed, reiterate that the law shall rather, engender a more cordial, mutually benefiting relationship amongst residents of the state irrespective of ethnicity, religion or creed. For emphasis, no particular group of persons is the target.

    “While it is the hope of government that all residents would take an ample advantage of this Law to enhance our socio-economic well being in Ondo State, compliance of same shall be given the utmost attention. Government shall pursue with vigour, through lawful means, to ensure strict compliance.

    “In this regard, details of the new law shall be made available to the public for proper information, more depth of understanding on contents as well as other relevant areas,” the statement said

  • Open grazing: You’re mentally handicapped – Soyinka slams Buhari

    Open grazing: You’re mentally handicapped – Soyinka slams Buhari

    Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of suffering from “mental delusion.”

    Soyinka was reacting to Buhari’s review of Open Grazing routes in some state of the nation.

    Criticizing Buhari for ordering a review of the grazing routes despite public outcry, Soyinka said the President may be suffering from noise deafening.

    Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Soyinka said: “It’s like there’s some delusion about this thing, a kind of mental delusion about this thing. What is it?

    “Perhaps the sound, the noise of the wedding bells (Yusuf Buhari) has contributed to the possible impairment of the hearing of the president of this nation. Because he does not seem to hear anything.”

    Soyinka wondered why Buhari was obsessed “about something which is being rejected, right, left and centre.”

    “Virtually the whole nation is screaming we do not want any open cattle grazing whether they go by the name cattle routes or grazing reserves.

    “Even the all-powerful and untouchable Miyetti Allah, patrons of the murderous Fulani herdsmen, have gone on record that ranching is it,” Soyinka said.

     

  • Open grazing: We’ll approach court to stop violation of Land Use Act – Ortom

    Open grazing: We’ll approach court to stop violation of Land Use Act – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has stated that his administration will approach the law courts to stop violation of the Land Use Act should the Federal Government insist on creating grazing routes and grazing areas in the state.

    He spoke on Sunday at the Makurdi Airport while interacting with journalists on his return from Delta State where he attended the burial of the father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The governor stated that the Land Use Act is clear on the issue of land ownership and management, stressing that any attempt to subvert his right as a Governor through creation of nonexistent Cattle Routes would be resisted with a legal action.

    He called on lieutenants of the President to advise him properly on issues so that things would work better for the country, pointing out that insisting on cattle routes in the 21st century when states are enacting ranching laws was retrogressive.

    Governor Ortom stated that already, there is serious food crisis in the country due to insecurity and if nothing is done to curtail the trend, the situation would get worse in the coming years.

    Speaking with journalists, the Governor said the abysmal performance of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration at the centre had provided an opportunity for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as an alternative to provide purposeful leadership for Nigeria in 2023.

    The Governor who also spoke on the issue of privatisation of government enterprises in the state said any of the advertised enterprises that is functional and its proposed sale is against the wishes of Benue people, he would go with public opinion.

  • Open grazing bill: Delta Assembly fixes date for public hearing

    Open grazing bill: Delta Assembly fixes date for public hearing

    The Delta State House of Assembly has fixed a date for the public hearing on a Bill for a Law to provide for the Regulation of Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing and to Prohibit Open Grazing and related matters in Delta State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, 26th July 2021, at the Press Center, Delta State House of Assembly Complex, Asaba beginning at 10 o’clock in the morning.

    The public hearing is being organized by the House joint committee on Special Bills and that of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to garner the inputs of the public, particularly major stakeholders in the making of the proposed law.

    The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Hon Pat Ajudua in a statement, requests memoranda from critical stakeholders, including the Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Director of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, DSS, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Board of Internal Revenue, the State Cattle Dealers and Rearers Association, the State Butchers Union of Nigeria, Farmers Associations and Civil Society Organizations, CSO.

    The statement adds that all memoranda should be submitted at room 115, Delta State House of Assembly Complex, Asaba on or before 9: 30am on Monday 26th July, 2021.

  • BREAKING: Okowa moves to legalise ban on open grazing in Delta

    BREAKING: Okowa moves to legalise ban on open grazing in Delta

    In a move to legalise the ban on open grazing in Delta State, the State Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has sent a bill to that effect to the State House of Assembly.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the bill, legalising ban on open grazing sent to the House by Governor Okowa was read during Tuesday’s plenary by Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori.

    The bill is for a law to Provide for the Regulation of Livestock Grazing, Rearing and Marketing and To Prohibit Open Grazing and Related Matters.

    TNG reports the bill passed first reading on the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly after it was read on Tuesday.

    The motion for the bill was moved by Hon Oghenerume Yakubu Ruben, member representing Ughelli South constituency.

    The motion was seconded by Christopher Ochor Ochor, the Deputy Speaker of the House.

    TNG reports Governors of the Southern region of Nigeria had earlier pronounced a ban on open grazing.

    Following debate on the motion, the Speaker, Oborevwori then slated 14th July, 2021 for the second reading of the bill.

  • Northern elders, groups blast Southern governors; reject power shift to south, deadline for implementation of anti-open grazing laws, others

    Northern elders, groups blast Southern governors; reject power shift to south, deadline for implementation of anti-open grazing laws, others

    The Northern Elders Forum and other interest groups on Tuesday slammed the 17 southern governors for demanding power shift to the South in 2023.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the southern governors met in Lagos on Monday and reinforced resolutions reached at their May 11 meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    They insisted that power must shift to the South in 2023, and agreed to enact anti-open grazing laws by September 1.

    However, in a swift reaction, the North Elders Forum, through its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the North will not be intimidated into yielding an office that ought to be settled democratically.

    It sees the decision of the Southern governors as an expression of a sentiment that could be best discussed within a political process.

    “We are running a democratic government and decisions over where the next president comes from will be made by voters exercising their rights to choose which candidate best serves their interest,” NEF said.

    The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, accused the Southern governors of ganging up against the North.

    Describing the proposed anti-open grazing law as retrogressive, the group said it threatens the legitimate presence of pastoral communities in the South.

    CNG said: “Their (Southern governors) support for treasonable felony, by the subtle endorsement of the activities of such criminal separatist forces, led by the likes of Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu, by warning the nation’s security agencies against operating in the region without obtaining permission from the governor of the particular state is a matter that must be given the seriousness it deserves.

    “It is ironic for such leaders of a society that delights in unleashing mayhem against fellow citizens of other regions at the slightest of pretexts, to expect the other sections of the country to trust them or any of their proteges with presidential powers.

    “The Southern governors’ resolutions in that regard have further exposed a deliberate attempt to impose a contentious system of a rotational presidency that turns all democratic norms and accepted indices of our national demography on their heads; a rotation system that is clearly aimed at achieving dubious political goals; and one clearly designed to weaken the North.

    “The Southern governors’ threat to impose and enforce this undemocratic leadership selection process on the North, irrespective of its advantage of numerical superiority and inherent political sophistry, is part of a calculated design to continuously weaken our region politically and pauperise it economically.

    “This conspiracy is actively perpetrated with the connivance of some northerners and accommodated by the personal ambition of a few of those that present themselves as northern political leaders.

    “Inevitably, the immediate trigger to the Lagos pronouncements was the collaborative assurances by the former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima and the Kaduna State Governor Nasir Elrufai given just two days earlier.”

    CNG insisted that the North would not be stampeded into making major decisions around power shift.

    It added that only a candidate who is competent and can unite and secure Nigeria should be President in 2023, irrespective of where he or she comes from.

    “We warn the Southern governors and their northern collaborators that any attempt to ride on the back of such gratuitous insults to democratic fair play and crass political opportunism, to hoist incompetent leadership on the nation in the name of rotation would not be accepted and shall be vehemently resisted,” CNG added.